Dog Survives 24 Days Alone in the Sierra Nevada Wilderness

[ERIC]

Dog Survives 24 Days Alone in the Sierra Nevada Wilderness

KFSN By Amanda Venegas
Wednesday, July 01, 2015 05:57PM
Video Link: http://abc30.com/pets/dog-survives-24-d ... da/821844/

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Fresno County dog is back home with its family after it spent 24 days alone in the Sierra Nevada. The dog went missing in the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness area and was found near Courtright Lake.

Three-year-old Chloe is happy to be back at home in Fresno County and playing fetch with her dad -- this after the Queensland spent 24 days in the wilderness all by herself.

"I wish she could talk. She'd give me one hell of a story. What she ate, what was chasing her. You know, where she went," said Ed Campos, Chloe's owner.

Ed is still in shock over his pup's survival in the wilderness. In early June, he and other Fresno County Sheriff's Search and Rescue volunteers rode into the mountains to prepare for the upcoming season, when lighting struck.

"Before I had a chance to grab her, she took off. It was like a big howitzer went off in camp," Ed said.

Ed searched desperately across the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness for days, hoping his scent would draw her near. The couple says they couldn't stop thinking of their dog, all alone.

"Not so much about the bears, but the mountain lions, especially after the ranger said that the area she was spotted that there were mountain lions and that's what concerned me the most because the smoke jumpers said she had a high-pitched yip," said Sandy Campos, Chloe's owner.

Along the way, friends and family jumped in to help, even complete strangers. Sightings started to come in, but no luck locating the scared dog.

"I can't go home empty-handed again. So I was thinking I haven't seen her; I'm chasing a ghost," Ed said.

After 15 days, Ed says he was searching Courtright Lake when his friend spotted Chloe.

"She heard me call her name, and she came to me and came to me 100 miles per hour and started screaming and yelling and barking," Ed said.

It was a reunion that brought everyone to tears. Chloe was in good health but had lost some weight. Her family says her rescue was a miracle thanks to the help of others.

"She's our family. We're whole again now that she's back," Sandy said.

A happy ending this family couldn't be more grateful for.

[rlown]

I love lost dog stories with happy endings.. very lucky dog.

[maverick]

Great story, I too would love to hear the dog tell us how it survived the elements, and what it ate for all those days, 24 days is a long time, a lot of humans could not have.

[rlown]

Mav, You should get a dog. They actually do talk to you! They say alot, and it's not all good or bad. The smartest thing that dog did was get the heck out of the Dinkey lakes area.

[maverick]

Mav, You should get a dog.

Would love to have a dog again, had a couple when I was a kid, but living in an apartment is not fair for a dog, or the neighbors.

[schmalz]

I love these stories. Also an interesting lesson to be taken here regarding leashes and lightning.

[Tom_H]

Great story, I too would love to hear the dog tell us how it survived the elements, and what it ate for all those days, 24 days is a long time, a lot of humans could not have.

That was the first question that crossed my mind as well. If I had to guess, I'd think all those chipmunks that wolves and mountain lions used to eat before they were eradicated or forced out of their range.

[rlown]

Dog friends. Assume the position tonight as well. This might help: https://www.google.com/search?q=dog+ear ... 7Mfw_8k%3D

[psykokid]

This is a long story that I have pared down to the bare essentials - A couple of years ago a guy that was a casual acquaintance was car camping up in the Chimney Peak area near Lake Isabella right around new years. He had his two boxers with him off leash around the campsite.For whatever reason they bolted, gone without a trace. The guy lived in Bakersfield and was coming up every chance he got to look for them. No dice. About 2 and a half weeks later the male shows up at the animal shelter in Lake Isabella. Around the beginning of Feb the female was being sighted here and there in the area up north of Onyx. Some people who live on a ranch up that way ended up getting in touch with the guy and they finally got her back at the very end of Feb. So 2 weeks and 2 months alone in the middle of winter, he was sure they had both been preyed upon by coyotes or a mountain lion. He was pleasantly surprised to get one of them back and downright ecstatic when he got them both back home safe and sound.

[maverick]

Hi Psykokid,

Welcome to HST! Thank you for sharing that story with us, wow!
If you get some time we would appreciate an intro here, thanks: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9329